Container transporter apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers of the pre-loaded pod type. A transporter trailer is provided including a mobile main frame, conveyor means to move a container to and from a transport position, container hold-down means engaging grooves on the container sides and adapted to accomodate container misalignment during loading, container stops spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, and transfer ramps at the conveyor ends. For loading from a selected end a container is pushed onto a normally lowered transfer ramp and moved over the associated container stop which is depressed until the container is locked in transport position. Operating means are provided to lower a selected container stop and raise its associated transfer ramp to an upwardly inclined position for unloading the container.

[151 3,675,798 5 July 11,1972

[54] CONTAINER TRANSPORTER APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Victor H. Carder,Carmel; Kenneth L.

Cook, Salinas, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Cochran Western Corporation, Salinas,

Calif.

51 lnt.Cl ..B60p1/52 5s FieldofSearch ..214/84,85,5l6,5l7,518

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,607 12/1928 Kellett..2l4/38.8

3,504,636 4/1970 Adler ..214/38.8X 1,243,636 10/1917 Schulz ..214/5l6Primary Examiner-Gerald M. F orlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. WernerAttorneyFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert ABSTRACT Apparatus forloading, transporting and unloading containers of the pre-loaded podtype. A transporter trailer is provided including a mobile main frame,conveyor means to move a container to and from a transport position,container holddown means engaging grooves on the container sides andadapted to accomodate container misalignment during loading, containerstops spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, and transfer rampsat the conveyor ends. For loading from a selected end a container ispushed onto a normally lowered transfer ramp and moved over theassociated container stop which is depressed until the container islocked in transport position. Operating means are provided to lower'aselected container stop and raise its associated transfer ramp to anupwardly inclined position for unloading the container.

l4Cia1ms,9Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 11 I972 3.675.798

sum 1 or 4 Victor H. Carder Kenneth L. Cook INVENTORS 914/ ffifiziiPATENTEDJUL 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTORS VICfOI' H. Carder Kenneth L.Cook #1024 W w PATENTEDJUL 1 1 I972 SHEET 30F 4 INVENTORS Victor -H.Carder Kenn fh Cook Attorneys CONTAINER TRANSPORTER APPARATUS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for transportingcontainers, and more particularly relates to transporter trailersadapted for loading, transporting and unloading containers of thepre-Ioaded pod type.

Container transporters of the type described have been used forapplications such as handling the containerized cargo pods used in theaircraft industry. These pods contain baggage, mail and other items ofcargo and have been developed to speed up the loading and unloading ofaircraft. The trailers are used to load or unload the cargo pods orcontainers at the terminal for movement to and from the aircraft. Atractor commonly is provided to pull a plurality of the loaded trailersin a train. The need has been recognized for a transporter apparatuswhich provides fast and efficient container handling with minimummanpower requirements. The transporter should easily receive thecontainer even when it is loaded with some misalignment or skewing withrespect to the transporter axis, should lock and securely hold down thecontainer when in the transport position, and yet afford ready releaseof the container for unloading.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS It is an object of the inventionto provide apparatus for the loading, transporting and unloading ofcontainers of the preloaded pod type and the like.

Another object is to provide transporter apparatus of the type describedwhich is of simplified construction and operation and affords fast andefficient handling of containers with minimum manpower requirements.

Another object is to provide container transporter apparatus of the typedescribed adapted to move a container to and from a transport positionon a mobile frame with a minimum of effort and which securely holds thecontainer to the frame in the transport position.

Another object is to provide container transporter apparatus of the typedescribed which affords a container holddown arrangement accommodatingloading of a container which may be slightly skewed or in off-centeralignment.

Another object is to provide container transport apparatus of the typedescribed affording transfer ramps at either end of a container conveyorwith the ramps adapted to move to a downwardly inclined position forcontainer loading and to an upwardly inclined position for unloading,together with container stops operating conjointly with the transferramps for restraining container movement from the transport position andto release a selected end of the container for unloading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acontainer transporter apparatus incorporating features of the inventionand with a pod type container in the transport position;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away side elevational view to an enlargedscale of the transporter apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the roller bed of the transporterapparatus;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate generally at 10 a container transporter apparatus forloading, transporting and unloading containers such as the preloaded podll of the type used for the handling of cargo for aircraft. Transporterapparatus 10 is adapted to easily load and unload pods 11 for transportbetween the terminal and the aircraft by means of a tractor pulling aplurality of the transporters in a train.

Transporter apparatus 10 comprises a mobile main frame 12 supported byfront and rear pairs of wheels 13,14. Running gear assembly 16 and towbar 17 are provided for pulling the transporter in a train. Suitablesteering linkages, not shown, are employed under the main frame toprovide four wheel steering for tracking. A coupler assembly 18 isprovided at the rear of the main frame for coupling with the tow bar ofa trailing transporter. Conventional parking brakes are provided tobrake the wheels automatically when the tow bar is raised.

A roller bed assembly 19 is provided on the main frame to function as aconveyor means for loading and unloading container 11 to and from itstransport position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This assemblyincludes a roller frame 21 mounted on a circular turntable 22 which inturn is mounted for vertical rotation about a pivot shaft 23 and flangebearing assembly 24 mounted on a transverse box channel member 26 of themain frame. Turntable 22 is rotatably supported at its outer peripheryby four rollers 27,28 mounted to the main frame for rotation aboutradial axes by means of brackets 29,31. This mounting arrangementaffords 360 rotation of the turntable with four releasable indexing pinsor stops 30 provided on the roller bed assembly at angular spacing toafford selective positioning of the roller bed for receiving anddischarging the containers. Turntable operating means are provided oneither side of the roller bed, each of which comprises an operatinghandle 32, rocker shaft 35, and rod 40 connected with a common turntableswing plate 45 which is spring loaded and in operating connection withfour actuating rods 25. coupled to the inside ends of respective pins30. Elevation of either handle 32 functions to actuate the pins 30 tounlock the turntable with respect to pin sockets on the main frame ateach position, and release of the handles returns the pins for againlocking the turntable.

The conveyor means on roller bed assembly 19 comprises a plurality oflaterally axised main rollers 33,34 arranged in a pair of spaced apartpaths separated by a depressed non-skid walkway 36, best illustrated inFIG. 3. Rollers 33 and 34 are mounted by suitable bearing means betweenouter longitudinally extending channels 37,38 and inner channels 39,41.Each end of the conveyor is provided with a transfer ramp assembly 42,43adapted to facilitate loading and unloading of the container to and fromthe main rollers. Transfer ramp 42 comprises two spaced apart frames 44each with four rotatably mounted rollers 46. The frames 44 are pivotallymounted to the roller bed frame at bearings 47. At the other end of theconveyor transfer ramp 43 comprises two spaced apart frames 48 each withfour rotatably mounted rollers 49. The frames 48 are pivotally mountedto the roller bed frame at bearings 51. Each of the transfer ramps 42,43operate between an upwardly and outwardly inclined or angular positionwhen a container is unloaded over that end of the roller bed, and to anapproximately equal downwardly and outwardly inclined position providingan incline for loading a container. The transfer ramps are moved totheir upwardly inclined positions during unloading to compensate for thesevere tire deflection on a side of the trailer resulting from theoff-center loading condition occuring upon unloading to the trailerside.

A container moving on the conveyor is guided to and from the transportposition by a pair of side rails 50 integral with the roller bed frame.

The roller bed is further provided with a pair of container stops 52,53at opposite ends of the roller conveyor. Container stop 52 comprises awedge-shaped plate 54 secured between end plates 56 and pivotallymounted to the roller bed by means of a torsion shaft 57. Similarly,container stop 53 comprises a wedge-shaped plate 58 secured between apair of end plates 59 and pivotably mounted to the roller bed by meansof a torsion shaft 61. The container stops are yieldably biased to araised position by means of tension spring pairs 60 connected tobellcranks 65 secured to respective torsion shafts. In the raisedpositions the stops function to retain a container in the transportposition.

For unloading, a selected stop is operated to its lowered position, andthe associated transfer ramp is raised by means of manually lifting oneof the actuating handles 62,63 mounted on the roller bed at an endopposite that of the selected stop. Each container stop and associatedtransfer ramp conjointly and simultaneously move to respective loweredand raised positions with the operating handles up, andare adapted toreturn to respective raised and lowered positions with the operatinghandles down. The identical operating mechanisms for the ramp/stop pairsare housed within respective side rails 50, and it will suffice todescribe only the mechanism controlled by handle 63. Handle 63 operatesthrough a rod 64 connected with a slotted yoke 66 which defines alost-motion connection with its associated stop through bellcrank 67secured to the torsion shaft 57. This lost-motion connection permits anon-loading container to move onto and depress a stop without theassociated ramp being raised by the stop.

Transfer ramp 42 is operated through a rod 68 connected between yoke 66and bellcrank 69 secured to laterally positioned torsion shaft 71. Asimilar torsion shaft 72 is provided for operating the opposite ramp 43.A pin and slot connection is provided between yoke 66 and bellcrank 69to provide a lost-motion connection affording freedom of movement foraramp when its operating handle is lowered. With a handle raised itsassociated ramp is raised through the exemplary camming arrangement of FIG. 9. A plurality of laterally spaced cams 73 are secured to shaft 71below plural rubbing blocks 74, each welded to the side of a ramp frame44. Clockwise rotation of shaft 71, as viewed in FIG. 9, responsive tothe handle being raised results in the cams 73 turning against blocks 74and raising the outer end of transfer ramp 42. A retainer spring 75 isconnected between roller bed 19 and the end of ramp frame 44.

With an actuating handle raised yoke 66 moves inwardly conjointlypivoting both of the shafts 57,71 to move container stop 52 to thelowered position while bringing the transfer ramp 42 to the raised,angular position. At this time a loaded container on the roller bed maybe pushed forward over the container stop and onto the transfer ramp.When the container overlys the stop and transfer ramp its weight willretain these elements in respective lowered, upwardly inclined positionsso that the actuating handle may be released until container transfer iscompleted. After the container clears the transfer ramp the force of thesprings 60 returns the container stop to the raised position whilegravity drops the transfer ramp to its downwardly inclined positionready for subsequent loading. During on-loading a container moving overthe incline of a transfer ramp depresses the container stop to itslowered position. After the container moves onto the main rollers andreaches the transport position the stops spring back to raised position.Both stops are now raised to securely restrain the container fromlengthwise movement until unloading is initiated.

As the container moves over the conveyor rollers into the transportposition it engages hold-down means 79 which function to securely holdthe container at its lower side edges to roller bed 19. Hold-down means79 includes a hold-down frame 81 mounted for lateral movement across thepath of container travel. The lateral range of travel of the hold-downmeans is limited by the two side rails 50. Frame 81 preferably comprisesa V-shaped channel member slidably mounted through corresponding alignedV-shaped openings 82 pro vided in frame members 3738.39.41. A pair oflaterally spaced apart guide assemblies 83,84 are mounted at oppositeends of frame 81 for sliding engagement with longitudinally extendinggrooves 86,87 formed at the lower edges of the sidewalls of container11.

The two guide assemblies 83,84 are similar in construction and operationand it will suffice to describe in detail assembly 84 of FIGS. 4-6. Thisguide assembly comprises a guide head 88 mounted on flat plate 89through a pin and slot connection 91. Plate 89 in turn is mounted on theouter end of hold-down frame 81 by suitable fasteners 90 secured througha bar 92.

Guide head 88 includes cooperative locking means comprising alongitudinally extending, inwardly projecting flange 93 spaced aboveplate 89 for registry with container groove 87. A pair of inclined sidewalls 94,96 are formed on the head for engagement with the leading sideedge of a container moving on the conveyor towards the transportposition. If the container is misaligned or skewed the action of itsleading edge striking an inclined side wall of the gripping headfunctions to laterally shift hold-down frame 81 permitting engagement ofthe grooves on both sides of the container with the correspondingflanges 93.

The pin and slot connection 91 comprises a pin or bolt 97 projectingthrough elongate slot 98 formed in web 99 of the guide head. A roundedbearing surface 101 provided on web 99 projects outwardly from pin 97. Aleaf spring 102 mounted within the guide head between a pair of studs103,104 bears against the surface 101 and yieldably centers it so thatflange 93 is normally aligned with the path of container travel. Head 88is free to tilt about pin 97 within a range of substantially 5 from itscentered position as the container edge moves into engagement with thehead. The lateral travel of head 88 through pin and slot connection 91is substantially within the range of 3/16 inch.

The use and operation of transport apparatus 10 is as follows. Prior toloading a container actuating handles 62,63 are both in their loweredpositions permitting the associated container stops 53,54 to be biasedto the raised position and the transfer ramps 42,43 to be biased to thelowered, downwardly inclined position. As a container is moved onto oneend of the roller bed, for example the left end of FIG. 7, it will move.upwardly over transfer ramp 42, depress container stop 52, and moveforwardly on the rollers towards the transport position. Where thecontainer may be out of longitudinal alignment or skewed as it rollsforward the container edge closest to the edge of the roller frame willstrike the guide head on that side and shift the hold-down framesideways sufficient to permit both grooves of the container to move intoregistry with the corresponding flanges 93. The container continues itsmovement until reaching container stop 53, and this is followed bytrailing stop 52 returning by spring action to its raised positionlocking the container in the transport position. After the transporterhas been moved to the unloading location the roller bed may be alignedfor discharging the container by raising one of the operating handles 32and swinging turntable 22 relative to the main frame. To unload thecontainer the operator raises one of the actuating handles at the endopposite the desired discharge end, for example handle 63 where it isdesired to discharge the container from the left end as viewed in FIG.7. Actuation of handle 63 depresses stop 52 to its lowered positionposition while simultaneously elevating transfer ramp 42 to its upwardlyinclined position. Container 11 is then pushed across the rollers andthe weight of the container riding on stop 52 holds the stop and ramp 42in position until the stop is cleared. As the container leaves thetransporter the stop returns to its raised position and the ramp dropsto its inclined position for receiving the next container.

In view of the foregoing description, it is clear that there has beenprovided herein a new and improved transport apparatus for handlingcontainers of the pre-loaded pod type. While the embodiment herein is atpresent considered to be preferred, it will be understood that numerousvariations and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in thean, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all suchvariations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

We claim: a

1. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container hold-down means on the main frame to engage and hold thecontainer with respect to the main frame, a pair of transfer ramps, eachramp positioned at a respective end of the conveyor means and comprisinga conveyor mounted for movement between a first position inclinedoutwardly and downwardly for loading of the container and a secondposition inclined outwardly and upwardly with said conveyor means forunloading of the container, a pair of container stops spaced apartlongitudinally substantially the length of the container, each stoppivotally mounted on the main frame at a respective end of the conveyorfor movement between a raised position stopping out ward travel of acontainer and a lowered position permitting unloading of the containerfrom said respective end, and operating means adapted to move a selectedcontainer stop to its lowered position and its associated transfer rampto its second position for unloading a container from said transportposition.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the container hold-down meanscomprises a hold-down frame mounted for lateral translatory movementwithin a range of travel with respect to the path of container travel onthe conveyor to accomodate container misalignment and skewing duringloading thereon, and a pair of spaced apart guide assemblies, each guideassembly mounted on an end of the hold-down frame to engage a respectivecontainer side for restraining the container in said transport position.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the container is formed with a pairof longitudinally extending grooves formed along the lower edges ofrespective container sides, and wherein each of the guide assembliesincludes an inwardly projecting, longitudinally extending flange adaptedfor interfitting engagement with a corresponding container groove.

4. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containerscomprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means adapted to releasably hold the container on theconveyor in said transport position, and container hold-down meansincluding a pair of guide assemblies spaced apart substantially thewidth of a container, each of said guide assemblies includingcooperative locking means to releasably receive a respective containerside and preclude vertical displacement of said container side withrespect to said conveyor, and means to constrain the guide assembliesfor lateral conjoint movement relative to the conveyor path within arange of travel to accommodate container misalignment and skewing duringloading.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the container is provided withlongitudinally extending grooves at the lower edges of respectivecontainer sides, and each of said guide assembly locking means includingan inwardly projecting flange in registry with a respective containergroove for engagement therewith during container loading andtransporting and disengagement therefrom during container unloading.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein each of said guide assemblies ismounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis within a range ofangular displacement to accomodate misalignment and skewing of thecontainer during movement thereof to and from the transport position.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said means constraining the guideassemblies comprises a hold-down frame mounted on the main frame forlateral movement within said range of travel, and each of the guideassemblies are mounted at a respective end of said hold-down frame.

8. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the guide assemblies each include apair of sidewalls, each sidewall inclined outwardly across the path ofcontainer movement during loading providing an inclined camming surfaceagainst which the lower side edge of a misaligned or skewed containeracts for moving the guide assemblies into alignment with said containersides.

9. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, a turntable mountedon the frame for rotation about an upright axis, conveyor means on theturntable to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means at respective ends of the conveyor means, each ofthe container stop means being mounted for movement between a raisedposition preventing movement of a container from the transport positionover the respective conveyor end and a lowered position permittingcontainer movement thereover, a pair of transfer ramps, each ramppositioned at a respective end of the conveyor means outwardly of itsassociated container stop means and mounted for movement between a firstposition inclined downwardly away from the conveyor means for loading ofthe container and a second position inclined upwardly away from theconveyor means for container unloading.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 and further including operating meansadapted to move a selected container stop means to its lowered positionand its associated transfer ramp to its second position for unloading acontainer from the selected end of the conveyor.

11. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile mainframe, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means at respective ends of the conveyor means, each ofthe container stop means being mounted for movement between a raisedposition preventing movement of a container from the transport positionover the respective conveyor end and a lowered position permittingcontainer movement thereover, a pair of transfer ramps, each ramppositioned at a respective end of the conveyor means outwardly of itsassociated container stop means and mounted for movement between a firstposition inclined downwardly away from the conveyor means for loading ofthe container and a second position inclined upwardly away from theconveyor means for container unloading, operating means adapted to movea selected container stop to its lowered position and its associatedtransfer ramp to its second position for unloading a container from theselected end of the conveyor, each container stop means being yieldablybiased to its raised position and each transfer ramp being movable, whensaid operating means is inactivated, to its first position wherebymovement of a container toward the transport position from a selectedend of the conveyor permits the respective container stop means toreturn to its raised position after it has been cleared by the containerfor locking the container in the transport position, and wherebyunloading of a container from the transfer ramp permits the same toreturn to its first position.

12. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means at respective ends of the conveyor means, each ofthe container stop means being mounted for movement between a raisedposition preventing movement of a container from the transport positionover the respective conveyor end and a lowered position permittingpermitting container movement thereover, a pair of transfer ramps, eachramp positioned at a respective end of the conveyor means outwardly ofits associated container stop means and mounted for movement between afirst position inclined downwardly away from the conveyor means forloading of the container and a second position inclined upwardly awayfrom the conveyor means for container unloading, operating means adaptedto move a selected container stop to its lowered position and itsassociated transfer ramp to its second position for unloading acontainer from the selected end of the conveyor, said operating meansincluding means to move the transfer ramp associated with a containerstop to said second position simultaneous with movement of the containerstop to its lowered position whereby movement of a container over adepressed one of the container stops holds the associated transfer rampin said second position until unloading of the container is completed,

13. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means at respective ends of the conveyor means, each ofthe container stop means being mounted for movement between a raisedposition preventing movement of a container from the transport positionover the respective conveyor end and a lowered position permittingcontainer movement thereover, a pair of transfer ramps, each ramppositioned at a respective end of the conveyor means outwardly of itsassociated container stop means and mounted for movement between a firstposition inclined downwardly away from the conveyor means for loading ofthe container and a second position inclined upwardly away from theconveyor means for container unloading,

operating means adapted to move a selected container stop means to itslowered position and its associated transfer ramp to its second positionfor unloading a container from the selected end of the conveyor, saidoperating means including a pair of actuating handles positioned atrespective ends of the conveyor means, and means interconnecting arespective one of the handles for conjointly operating the containerstop and transfer ramp at an opposite end of the conveyor means betweensaid raised and lowered positions of the stop means and said first andsecond positions of the ramp.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein each of the actuating handles ismounted for movement between a lowered position operating its associatedstop and ramp to respective raised and second positions, and to anelevated position operating its associated stop and ramp to a respectivelowered and first position, and said means interconnecting the handlesincludes lostmotion connection means permitting movement of a containerstop to its lowered position during container loading while itsassociated handle returns to its lowered position.

1. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyor means on themain frame to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container hold-down means on the main frame to engage and hold thecontainer with respect to the main frame, a pair of transfer ramps, eachramp positioned at a respective end of the conveyor means and comprisinga conveyor mounted for movement between a first position inclinedoutwardly and downwardly for loading of the container and a secondposition inclined outwardly and upwardly with said conveyor means forunloading of the container, a pair of container stops spaced apartlongitudinally substantially the length of the container, each stoppivotally mounted on the main frame at a respective end of the conveyorfor movement between a raised position stopping outward travel of acontainer and a lowered position permitting unloading of the containerfrom said respective end, and operating means adapted to move a selectedcontainer stop to its lowered position and its associated transfer rampto its second position for unloading a container from said transportposition.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the container hold-downmeans comprises a hold-down frame mounted for lateral translatorymovement within a range of travel with respect to the path of containertravel on the conveyor to accomodate container misalignment and skewingduring loading thereon, and a pair of spaced apart guide assemblies,each guide assembly mounted on an end of the hold-down frame to engage arespective container side for restraining the container in saidtransport position.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the container isformed with a pair of longitudinally extending grooves formed along thelower edges of respective container sides, and wherein each of the guideassemblies includes an inwardly projecting, longitudinally extendingflange adapted for interfitting engagement with a correspondingcontainer groove.
 4. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloadingcontainers comprising the combination of a mobile Main frame, conveyormeans on the main frame to move a container to and from a transportposition thereon, container stop means adapted to releasably hold thecontainer on the conveyor in said transport position, and containerhold-down means including a pair of guide assemblies spaced apartsubstantially the width of a container, each of said guide assembliesincluding cooperative locking means to releasably receive a respectivecontainer side and preclude vertical displacement of said container sidewith respect to said conveyor, and means to constrain the guideassemblies for lateral conjoint movement relative to the conveyor pathwithin a range of travel to accommodate container misalignment andskewing during loading.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the containeris provided with longitudinally extending grooves at the lower edges ofrespective container sides, and each of said guide assembly lockingmeans including an inwardly projecting flange in registry with arespective container groove for engagement therewith during containerloading and transporting and disengagement therefrom during containerunloading.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein each of said guideassemblies is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis withina range of angular displacement to accomodate misalignment and skewingof the container during movement thereof to and from the transportposition.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said means constraining theguide assemblies comprises a hold-down frame mounted on the main framefor lateral movement within said range of travel, and each of the guideassemblies are mounted at a respective end of said hold-down frame. 8.Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the guide assemblies each include a pairof sidewalls, each sidewall inclined outwardly across the path ofcontainer movement during loading providing an inclined camming surfaceagainst which the lower side edge of a misaligned or skewed containeracts for moving the guide assemblies into alignment with said containersides.
 9. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloading containers,comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, a turntable mountedon the frame for rotation about an upright axis, conveyor means on theturntable to move a container to and from a transport position thereon,container stop means at respective ends of the conveyor means, each ofthe container stop means being mounted for movement between a raisedposition preventing movement of a container from the transport positionover the respective conveyor end and a lowered position permittingcontainer movement thereover, a pair of transfer ramps, each ramppositioned at a respective end of the conveyor means outwardly of itsassociated container stop means and mounted for movement between a firstposition inclined downwardly away from the conveyor means for loading ofthe container and a second position inclined upwardly away from theconveyor means for container unloading.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 andfurther including operating means adapted to move a selected containerstop means to its lowered position and its associated transfer ramp toits second position for unloading a container from the selected end ofthe conveyor.
 11. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloadingcontainers, comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyormeans on the main frame to move a container to and from a transportposition thereon, container stop means at respective ends of theconveyor means, each of the container stop means being mounted formovement between a raised position preventing movement of a containerfrom the transport position over the respective conveyor end and alowered position permitting container movement thereover, a pair oftransfer ramps, each ramp positioned at a respective end of the conveyormeans outwardly of its associated container stop means and mounted formovement between a first position inclined downwardly away from theconveyor means for loading of the coNtainer and a second positioninclined upwardly away from the conveyor means for container unloading,operating means adapted to move a selected container stop to its loweredposition and its associated transfer ramp to its second position forunloading a container from the selected end of the conveyor, eachcontainer stop means being yieldably biased to its raised position andeach transfer ramp being movable, when said operating means isinactivated, to its first position whereby movement of a containertoward the transport position from a selected end of the conveyorpermits the respective container stop means to return to its raisedposition after it has been cleared by the container for locking thecontainer in the transport position, and whereby unloading of acontainer from the transfer ramp permits the same to return to its firstposition.
 12. Apparatus for loading, transporting and unloadingcontainers, comprising the combination of a mobile main frame, conveyormeans on the main frame to move a container to and from a transportposition thereon, container stop means at respective ends of theconveyor means, each of the container stop means being mounted formovement between a raised position preventing movement of a containerfrom the transport position over the respective conveyor end and alowered position permitting permitting container movement thereover, apair of transfer ramps, each ramp positioned at a respective end of theconveyor means outwardly of its associated container stop means andmounted for movement between a first position inclined downwardly awayfrom the conveyor means for loading of the container and a secondposition inclined upwardly away from the conveyor means for containerunloading, operating means adapted to move a selected container stop toits lowered position and its associated transfer ramp to its secondposition for unloading a container from the selected end of theconveyor, said operating means including means to move the transfer rampassociated with a container stop to said second position simultaneouswith movement of the container stop to its lowered position wherebymovement of a container over a depressed one of the container stopsholds the associated transfer ramp in said second position untilunloading of the container is completed.
 13. Apparatus for loading,transporting and unloading containers, comprising the combination of amobile main frame, conveyor means on the main frame to move a containerto and from a transport position thereon, container stop means atrespective ends of the conveyor means, each of the container stop meansbeing mounted for movement between a raised position preventing movementof a container from the transport position over the respective conveyorend and a lowered position permitting container movement thereover, apair of transfer ramps, each ramp positioned at a respective end of theconveyor means outwardly of its associated container stop means andmounted for movement between a first position inclined downwardly awayfrom the conveyor means for loading of the container and a secondposition inclined upwardly away from the conveyor means for containerunloading, operating means adapted to move a selected container stopmeans to its lowered position and its associated transfer ramp to itssecond position for unloading a container from the selected end of theconveyor, said operating means including a pair of actuating handlespositioned at respective ends of the conveyor means, and meansinterconnecting a respective one of the handles for conjointly operatingthe container stop and transfer ramp at an opposite end of the conveyormeans between said raised and lowered positions of the stop means andsaid first and second positions of the ramp.
 14. Apparatus as in claim13 wherein each of the actuating handles is mounted for movement betweena lowered position operating its associated stop and ramp to respectiveraised and second positions, and to an elevated position operating itsassociated stop and ramp to a respective lowered and first position, andsaid means interconnecting the handles includes lost-motion connectionmeans permitting movement of a container stop to its lowered positionduring container loading while its associated handle returns to itslowered position.